The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-29
A Dozen Desperadoes Make a
Big Haul on the Southern
Pacific Road.
The Job Quickly Accomplished
in Genuine Jesse James
Style.
Three Masked Men with Drawn Re-
yOlyers Stop and Rob Mis-
souri, Stage Coach.
Houston cTexasl speciai.l


Pacific Railway brought the news of train
robbery which for clearness of conception
and boldness OF execution is the counter
part of the most daring piece of highway
work that has ever occurred in the South
west. The fullest and at the same time
the most satisfactory and Ineligible account
of the affair is obtained by relating in a
connected way what was gathered from
those on board of the train-both trainmen
and passengers-and then by giving the
expressions of individuals. AS the train
was pulling cut from Flatonia,
1870 miles west of this city. at
1924 Saturday morning, two men
mounted the engine, and with drawn re-
volvers ordered the engineer to pull out
faster. The engineer, Ben Pickren, in the
face Of such persuasive argument, did as
he was told at lively rate. When about
two miles distant from Flatonia the rob-
bers ordered the engineer to bring the
train to stand. When the train had
SLOWED up it was found that the engine was
standing on trestle over creek. The
engine er was then commanded to pull up,
so that the engine and express-car should
be on the embankment, while the yes-
senger- coaches were left on the trestle.
This was the spot which had been selected
for the robbery, as bright campfire
WAS burning a short distance from the
track, around which we're groul ed the mys-
terious figures of ten or n dozen stalwart
men. The engineer and firemen were then
, taken off the engine and placed under
guard Of four men. The II st of the robbers
then crowded around the combination bag
gage and express ear and demanded that
the door he opened. In the meantime Ex-
press Messenger N. l.. Folger, of Wells,
Fargo Il Co.'S Express, had not been idle,
but had been busy concealing what valua-
bles he could. When the train first stopped
over the trestle the conductor, Jesse X.
Lyons, put his head out Of the window
of the car nearest tho engine and call
ing to the engineer inquired: What
is the matter, Benz The engineer re-
piled that he wac in the hands of robberu,
and that they had ordered the train
stopped. When the robbers demanded
entrance TO the express car Messenger
Folger at first refused TO open the door,
but after holding consultation with Bag.
gagemaster Hart he concluded that dis
cretion was the better part of valor, and
opened the door. The robbers then
jumped in the car with drawn Ie-
volvers, and commanded that the safe
be opened. The messenger was some
what dilatory about complying, when one
of the robbers commenced to belabor hiIn
over the head with Six shooter. Thie
had the desired effect, and the robbers pro-
ceeded TO appropriate what valuables were
in the safe. While they were going through
the safe the express messenger attempted
resistance, when he was hit on the head
with a six-shooter and knocked senseloss,
and they then proceeded with their work
unmolested. When the safe had finally
been finished up they turned their attention
to tlxa IL VNaha IA. 49, hafz
is no local distribution of mail matter, and
consequently no mail agent, but through
pouches are carried, and they are
in charge of the baggagemaster. The rob-
bers cut the pouches and took what they
wanted, but it is not thought that they got
any valuable letters, rs no regist' T5d mail
was on this train at all. The robbers then
proceeded to the dav-car, and with pre-
scented revolvers ordered everybody to
throw up their hands. 1t is useless to say
that everybody's hands went up, including
the conductors, who was In the car. Their
method of procedure was to place two
armed men at each end of the car, while
the man whom the rest addressed as Gap
tain" and another went through the car
and robbed the passengers.
In the meantime Conductor Jesse X
Lyons, having discovered what was up, noti-
fled the passengers in the day coach, and set
them an example by concealing most of
the money in his possession. Nearly all
the passengers did the same, and when tie
robbers entered the car they obtained rom
the passengers and conducor Lot more
than from ~ 10 500 each. j. II. Mitchell,
of Tombstone, Ari., saved in this way $500;
PamarouX, of San Francisco, $l60; and
l.. Lasker, Il New York drummer, $l00.
Walter Gregory, of San Antonio, CAL,
gave up all lie had, $50, and the robbers
gave him back $500.
The highwaymen then entered the Pull
man sleeper and went from berth 10 berth
exacting money. Lou Meyer, Cincin-
natl travelling man, resisted and was
struck with the butt of pistol. Mr.. New
barger, n New York drummer, was severely
beaten because lie was slow in delivering
his property. From Newbarger the thieves
took so in cash and 81 900 worth of
diamonds. Col. Quintos and n Lieutenant
of the Mexican army were robbed of $500.
Col. Qsintos proposed to open fire on the
despoilers, but yielded 10 the entreaties of
n woman and refrained. Before the rascals
had completed the round OF the sleeper
the conductor informed them that the
west bound train was due, and they allow
ed the train to 60 on TO prevent a collision.
Three passengers thus escaped molesta-
llOH. DOuhc VI bhc DhooOhSIlS III
sleeper managed to save considerable
property 10y concealing it.
1t is estimated that the robbers secured
from SIS, 900 TO $4,000. 1t is not thought
they got much from the mail ba s. Of
fcers and bloodhounds are ursuing the
thieves. Most of the robbers were masked
and otherwise disguised. The leader wore
no disguise. He is described as little
above medium h ght, OF stout build, and
apparently about 40 years old. He wore
q fierce looking sandy nustache; his eyes
were keen gray and his complexion was
ford almost to redness. His clothes were
rough and manner uncouth and his Ian
guage vulgar.
INCIDENTS OF THE ROBBERY.
When the robbers entered the Pullman
sleeper the lights were oil out, aud the
conductor was ordered to take mp his lam
tern and go with them. The conductor
with his lautern, sanawiched between the
captain, who carried n deadly looking SIX
shooter, and another robber with IA VIM
chester in his hand, they went through tue
sleeper in very systematic manner. The
conductor was made to pull the curtains
back and arouse the sleeping pas
sengers, while the captain and his
murderous- looking weapon explained the
object of the meeting. The first man
WI bo woe arousad In tbie rnapnar uae IN,